FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

IDP Sleepers - Week 5 Darin Tietgen October 1, 2008

Welcome to Week 5 of The Huddle’s IDP Sleeper Report. Hopefully we’ve been able to get you a few lesser-known names to follow week to week. With the injury bug chomping down on more than a handful of players (and bye weeks upon us) you need to keep your eye on many sleepers, especially on the IDP side. Feel free to email me if you want to discuss IDP sleepers. Contact me at huddledarin@yahoo.com. And without further ado, here’s this week’s sleepers.

LINEBACKERS

Omar Gaither (PHI): I’m a little nervous to put Gaither on this list, as he was thought to be the future leader of the Eagle defense, only to disappoint. Well, Gaither has two very solid games under his belt and has a very solid matchup here in Week 5.

Boss Bailey (DEN): Another name I’m somewhat nervous to include here, as I named Jamie Winborn, who shares time with Bailey, last week. Bailey has games of 11, 14 and 19 fantasy points over the last 3 weeks, and has a favorable matchup this weekend.

Clint Session (IND): Mentioned his name last week, even with him on bye. He’s good to go this week against a struggling Houston team. Figure Session and the rest of the Colt IDPs (especially the LBs) will have solid numbers.

Other to Consider: Daryl Smith (JAX)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Gaines Adams (DE – TBB): I’m going to recommend Adams here, despite the Bucs’ Week 5 opponents, the Denver Broncos, incredible pass protection (only 2 sacks allowed this season). Adams, though, is getting it done all over the field, though. He has a multi-sack game (Week 2) and has an INT in the past two games. He was touted as one of the best rookie IDPs a couple years ago and is starting to show why. Don’t be disappointed if he’s not able to get to QB Jay Cutler, but don’t be shocked if he doesn’t figure out other ways to fill up the box score.

Ty Warren (DE – NEP): Coming back from their bye week, the Patriot D is well-rested and faces a Niner OL that has given up 19 sacks thus far in 2008. Warren isn’t a sack specialist, but will likely find his way to QB J.T. O”Sullivan on Sunday.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Kevin Payne (S – CHI): Payne started the season off pretty quietly, but has stepped up big time. With the Bear defense looking pretty solid, Payne will continue to put up numbers, especially against the fledgling Lions.

Brent Grimes (CB – ATL): Bit of a deeper sleeper here that could have a big game against the Packers backup QBs (or a weakened Aaron Rodgers). Grimes had a huge Week 4 and could top 15 fantasy points this week.

Other to Consider: Marquand Manuel (S - DEN)

WEEK 4 REPORT CARD

LINEBACKERS

Andra Davis (CLE): 1 assisted tackle (1 fantasy point). Wow, what a bust. On top of it, after I submitted Davis as a sleeper, I learned that he was the malicious creep who purposely poked the Ravens’ RB Willis McGahee in the eye at the end of a play during Week 3. Boo, Mr. Davis. Boo. Jamie Winborn (DEN): Um, zero. What the heck? Winborn didn’t start Week 4 and appears to be on an every-other-week schedule. Leave him on your waiver wire.Rashard Jeanty (CIN): 6 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle (13 fp) Not a horrible effort for Jeanty. He’s been pretty solid this season, even with fellow Bengal LBs Keith Rivers and Dhani Jones both putting up good numbers.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Shaun Rogers (DT – CLE): 3 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 1 sack (9 fp). Not bad for a fill-in DL, if you were bitten by the first bye weeks. The big guy is on bye this week, but may have value moving forward.Travis Kirschke (DE – PIT): 3 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles (10 fp). Any time you can get double digits from your DLs, it’s a bonus. Especially ones you grabbed off the wire. Kirschke’s been around forever, and is actually having a decent couple of weeks for the rugged Steeler D. Consider him this week against the Jags, but he’ll be better after the bye against the Bengals.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Erik Coleman (S – ATL): 4 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 1 pass defensed (10 fp). Not anywhere close to the 10 solos he posted last week, but a solid effort nonetheless. Coleman is a talented football player with the ability to put up big numbers. He’s a fine start in the next couple of weeks leading up to the Falcons’ bye.Tye Hill (CB – STL): 2 solo tackles (4 fp). Ahh, fantasy football is a cruel mistress. Hill had 3 weeks of 13+ fantasy points, and then has this dud. Let him stew on the waiver wire this week, as the Rams are on bye, but consider him if he gets hot again, as the Haslett-led Rams could actually play better defense. I mean, they’ll have to, right?Pacman Jones (CB - DAL): 1 solo tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 1 pass defensed (3 fp). And so we round out this week’s report card with yet another “blah”. Jones is continually making plays for the Cowboy defense, which doesn’t always translate into fantasy numbers. Jones is likely available on your league’s waiver wire and he’s a pretty decent start the next few weeks.

Note: Scoring system used for this report – solo tackle (2), assisted tackle (1), sack (3), forced or recovered fumble (3), interception (3) and pass defensed (1). All players were found on the Site Owners Fantasy Association IDP league waiver wire.